The Baltimore Ravens 2024 NFL Draft class got a chance to make their first impressions last Saturday at rookie minicamp. While all of the attention was on high draft picks like cornerback Nate Wiggins and offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, some lesser-known players were looking to make their mark as well.
One of those players is Morgan State defensive back Jordan Toles. Toles impressed head coach John Harbaugh when he worked out for the Ravens and earned an invite to the rookie minicamp.
“First of all, his tape is really good. He’s a very productive player. I just think he’s an instinctive player who’s got a high level of ability. We like those guys, especially those guys from around here. There are five really good programs in this area that we have a lot of respect for,” Harbaugh said.
Toles started his college career at LSU before transferring to Morgan State. He landed at LSU after a standout career at St. Francis Academy where he was a four-star recruit and the No. 4 ranked prospect coming out of Maryland.
Toles posted three interceptions and his 66 tackles were the second most on the team. He was voted to the first-team All MEAC and was a finalist for Aeneas Williams Award, given to the top defensive back at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in 2023. He was also invited to the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl which features the top 100 NFL draft eligible HBCU football players.
At 6-foot-1, 209 pounds, Toles showed potential during rookie minicamp.
“He looked really good moving around. He’s a big, strong guy, and he moves well. He’s a defensive back. He looked really good the last two days,” Harbaugh said.
The Ravens have always prioritized good defense back play dating back to the days when they had Rod Woodson at safety and Chris McCallister excelling for their first Super Bowl-winning team in 2000. And of course, Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed and cornerback Jimmy Smith were major contributors to the 2012 Super Bowl team. It would be a dream of Toles’ to put on the jersey and play in the secondary as those greats.
Toles wasn’t the only local product at the rookie minicamp. Maryland safety Beau Braden, a former three-star recruit and Clarksville, Maryland native out of River Hill High School hopes to stick with the Ravens as well after rookie minicamp. The Ravens also signed Duke defensive tackle Ja’Mion Franklin as an undrafted free agent. Franklin graduated from North Caroline High School in Maryland in 2018.